A Content Analysis of Euthanasia Polls in Australia and New Zealand - Words Do Matter.

Grove, GL; Hughes, I; Lovell, M; Best, M

A Content Analysis of Euthanasia Polls in Australia and New Zealand - Words Do Matter.

Grove, GL Hughes, I Lovell, M

Best, M

Permalink

Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Internal medicine journal, 2021
Issue Date:: 2021-05-19

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

The embargo period expires on 19 May 2022

Adobe PDF

Download Accepted Manuscript VersionAdobe PDF (2.02 MB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Grove, GL
dc.contributor.author	Hughes, I
dc.contributor.author	Lovell, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1407-2748
dc.contributor.author	Best, M
dc.date.accessioned	2021-09-03T04:40:10Z
dc.date.available	2021-05-11
dc.date.available	2021-09-03T04:40:10Z
dc.date.issued	2021-05-19
dc.identifier.citation	Internal medicine journal, 2021
dc.identifier.issn	1444-0903
dc.identifier.issn	1445-5994
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150310
dc.description.abstract	<h4>Aim</h4>To explore whether public support for and opposition to Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide (EPAS) as measured in historic Australian and New Zealand polls has been influenced by the wording of survey questions.<h4>Methods</h4>Australian and New Zealand random-sample post-1995 EPAS poll questions asked of the general public were identified and subjected to content analysis. Individual phrases and words were considered in terms of their favourability towards or unfavourability against EPAS and each poll question was assigned a net favourability score. Variation of support for EPAS based on year, location and favourability of language was analysed by various statistical methods.<h4>Results</h4>Mean public support for EPAS in Australia and New Zealand between 1995 and the present was 70.2% with support ranging between 47% and 85%. Support did not vary by location and has remained unchanged over time. However, support was positively associated with increasing levels of favourable wording, accounting for over 20% variation in mean support. Allusions to hopelessness had an especially strong effect on increasing support for EPAS.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Use of emotive phrases and language is associated with influencing attitudes to EPAS in Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting public support for EPAS based on individual polls. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation.ispartof	Internal medicine journal
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/imj.15377
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject	1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	General & Internal Medicine
dc.title	A Content Analysis of Euthanasia Polls in Australia and New Zealand - Words Do Matter.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2022-05-19T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2021-09-03T04:40:09Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

Aim

To explore whether public support for and opposition to Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide (EPAS) as measured in historic Australian and New Zealand polls has been influenced by the wording of survey questions.

Methods

Australian and New Zealand random-sample post-1995 EPAS poll questions asked of the general public were identified and subjected to content analysis. Individual phrases and words were considered in terms of their favourability towards or unfavourability against EPAS and each poll question was assigned a net favourability score. Variation of support for EPAS based on year, location and favourability of language was analysed by various statistical methods.

Results

Mean public support for EPAS in Australia and New Zealand between 1995 and the present was 70.2% with support ranging between 47% and 85%. Support did not vary by location and has remained unchanged over time. However, support was positively associated with increasing levels of favourable wording, accounting for over 20% variation in mean support. Allusions to hopelessness had an especially strong effect on increasing support for EPAS.

Conclusion

Use of emotive phrases and language is associated with influencing attitudes to EPAS in Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting public support for EPAS based on individual polls. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150310